Baader Solar Continuum Filter - 1.25" # FSOL-1 2458390
Brand | Baader Planetarium |
Part Number | 2458390 |
Availability | available |
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Product Info
Manufacturer Description
Please Note: For safe use, the Solar Continuum filter must be used in conjunction with a primary solar filter (ie, Herschel Wedge Prism, or Baader AstroSolar Film). It must be placed after the primary filter, and cannot be used alone, or permanent eye and equipment damage will result.
The new Baader Solar Continuum filter is designed to enhance the visibility of solar granulation and sunspot details. By transmitting a specific spectral region around 540nm, free of emission and absorption lines, the Solar Continuum filter is able to boost contrast and reduce the effects of atmospheric turbulence. With the Solar Continuum filter in place, images snap to focus, and granulation becomes regularly visible. Details at the limit of visibility become easier to hold, and image motion reduced.
The Solar Continuum filter works well in all types of telescopes, for both visual and imaging. Users of SCTs and achromatic refractors will find it particularly beneficial, as it completely excludes the red and blue wavelengths, and centers on the peak visual wavelengths where the telescope optics are sharpest and free from chromatic aberrations. For digital imaging, we also recommend the Continuum filter be combined with Baader's UV/IR Cut Filter (to completely cut the defocused far infrared wavelengths).
The Solar Continuum filter also makes the perfect star test filter. It's narrow bandpass and complete blockage of longer and shorter wavelengths make it superior to standard green colored filters for testing refractors at their center design wavelength (and peak visual wavelength). With this filter, more accurate appraisals of optical quality can be made, without the effects of spherochromatism or secondary color error. Due to the narrow 10nm bandpass, star testing through the Solar Continuum filter will require a bright test star.
As with all Baader Planetarium Filters, the Solar Continuum possesses all the trademark Baader filter qualities. Optical, Physical, and Mechanical quality are superb.
Agena Note: Please note that this filter does not feature a female thread. Hence, you cannot stack additional 1.25" filters on to this item.
Reviews
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Apr 21, 2019
Didn't do anything for me
Pros: Cons: Comments:I had heard a lot about this filter and decided to get one. However, I really didn't notice any improvement over not using it. Perhaps my telescope doesn't benefit from it. It is very well made as all Baader products seem to be.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Jul 14, 2017Re: Baader Solar Continuum filter.
Pros: Cons: Comments:I was using a full aperture Solar filter on an 8" dob and while the view was good, it left some to be desired if there was no sunspots. Also the large scope was elaborated by daytime seeing / tube currents.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
I gave up on white light once I sold the scope. Year later I acquired a small 80mm Ed refractor and decided to try imaging in white light with it along with my lunt.
Reading reviews online, the rear filters were better than baader film or glass front filters. They were right.
The granulation is much more readily apparent with the white light rear diagonal and this SC filter. I have read the variable polarizer works okay but this is the filter to get if you can afford it. Rear 2" Solar diagonal and 2" filter gets expensive but worth it if you have a 120-130 refractor. Under 100mm you can use the 1.25" Solar diagonal.
The lunt 1.25 diagonal is long male end and weird connecting to the scope so I had to buy a baader click lock 2" to 1.25" adapter to hold everything securely because it was loose with a single set screw from standard 2" to 1.25" adapter.
None of that directly applies to the Solar Continuum filter just the accessories needed to use it properly, highly recommended!!This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Jun 6, 2017Solar Fun part 2
Pros: Cons: Comments:I bought this, based on the description on the website about its effectiveness on the Solar disk to bring out detail. When I used it for th first time, it reminded me about my first Tasco telescope and the Sun filter that they included with the accessories. It gave a nice green image of the Sun, very similar to the image I get with the Solar Continuum filter. I used it with my 80mm refractor and on my Nexstar 8SE scope with similar results, a nice green solar image. I have yet to see granulation, like the product description mentions, but I have not had many clear sunny skies to try it out.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Oct 6, 2015Works well
Pros:Works as advertised
Cons:Cost
Comments:Used with a TV85, Lunt 2" wedge and a Lumicon single polarizer. I can see surface granulation with this filter where I can't with a #58 Wratten. Pricey, but still recommended.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Jun 29, 2012The Best for solar observing!!
Pros:Accurate,Quality Lenses
Cons: Comments:This filter, when used in conjunction with a solar, "white light" filter, adds quite a lot of detail. Some granulation will be visible.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Jun 16, 2012Baader Continuum Filter
Pros:Quality Lenses
Cons: Comments:My initial review of this filter reflected my results on my 12" SCT. But I have since used it on a 3" refractor and find that the continuum filter does make solar detail more easily visible. My experience with using it on the SCT was that it seemed to subdue the detail. Both telescopes also had Baader white light solar film filters over the main lens.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Oct 31, 2011Just need a Refractor to match it...
Pros:Easy to Use,Accurate,Quality Lenses
Cons: Comments:Baader filters are quality and good price in the same product. Problem is, I use a SCT, not as good for this. Observing the Sun with ND5 (visual) filters doesn't adds to the contrast, in fact it obscures the image. Use it with a REFRACTOR and, if possible, with a Baader metallic filter.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Oct 28, 2011Solar Continuum Filter
Pros:Accurate,Strong Construction,Quality Lenses
Cons: Comments:This filter was very useful for observing high power sunspot detail.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
My personal preference for overall low power Sun viewing (must use Baader white light solar filter or other protection filter also with continuum filter) was not to use the continuum filter as it seemed to subdue some hard to see sun detail.
Some may also prefer a regular Baader green filter or a Wratten #58 green. Must be used on sun with a suitable white light protection filter.This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
May 2, 2010Ecellent Refractor Star Test Filter
Pros: Cons: Comments:I use this filter primarily for star testing achromats and ED refractors.
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
Refractors are notoriously difficult to star test, owing to the interplay of the different focal points of the various colors. This filter allows me to test refractors in a color close the the range for which most refractors are opitmized. By removing the other colors, the star-test pattern is very easy to see; far, far superior to the standard yellow and green filter stack often suggested. The faster the refractor the more it helps. Star testing my old Genesis is nearly impossible without the filter, with it, it's easy to tell that the lens is very good indeed.
The filter is of no help in testing color correction, but it does allow easy analysis of correction in green light, and makes it easy to detect rough surface and zones. It'd be useful if Baader made some cutoff filters in other colors, to allow assessment at other wavelengths. The green is VERY informative, though.
Most refractors perform well at this wavelength, so just about any refractor will show it's sharpest in focus planetary and lunar image with the filter in place, making it a fun filter for resolution dependent targets.
It's also a very effective Mars filter, operating the same way a green filter would, but with heavier contrast.
The only drawback to the filter is that it's a 'dark' filter, requiring the use of a brighter star than normal for testing. As a planetary filter, it only works well on 100mm and larger scopes.This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Aug 7, 2009I would buy this product again and again
Pros:Quality Lenses
Cons: Comments:Excellent filter to see the sun granulations. Filter of very good quality (German mark)
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? YesThis review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
Feb 1, 2009Baader Solar Continuum Filter 1.25"
Pros:Abt 20 contrast increase
Cons:Nothing bad to report
Comments:Using my Orion 6" f/8 and Orion white light solar filter with this solar continuum filter, the Sun spot detail have shown more contrast - about 20% more. It makes the Sun a greenish color with more black in the sun spots!
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
I'm waiting for my solar filter for my Orion 80mm f/11.4 refractor and a H-Alpha filter to test the image even more. I haven't tried imaging the sun yet with this filter but visually it's great so imaging should be just as good?This review was provided courtesy of AgenaAstro.com
May 31, 2007Baader Planetarium Solar Continuum Filter 1.25"
Pros:The greenish color does show about a 20% increase in contrast
Cons:Nothing bad to report!
Comments:Using my Orion 6" f/8 and Orion white light solar filter with this solar continuum filter, the Sun spot detail have shown more contrast - about 20% more! Makes the Sun a greenish color with more black in the sun spots!
Bottom Line: Would you recommend this item? Yes
I'm waiting for my solar filter for my Orion 80mm f/11.4 refractor and a H-Alpha filter to test the image even more! I haven't tried imaging the sun yet with this filter but visually it's great so imaging should be just as good?Sort by